Car Question-need Some Help

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Feb 14, 2005 | 08:38 AM

holland501

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From: houston

Car Question-need Some Help

Besides my truck, 97 F-250 4x4, I also have a 99 Sable. I was wondering if anybody knew if these cars have a Knock Sensor? From time to time it will Ping under load. Now I'm talking very, very light load. Just minor throttle movement. The sort of thing you do just to maintain speed on a flat road. I have tried changing to high test. It makes no difference. It doesn't make any difference if the A/C is on, hot day or cold. It just pings sometimes. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Or even the location of a site like this for Ford/Mercury Cars. Thanks again.

Feb 14, 2005 | 09:02 AM

couleeman

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From: Magrath

Have you tried a higher octane gas yet? What about checking the timing?

Feb 14, 2005 | 09:29 AM

holland501

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From: houston

I've tried all that. This problem is intermittent. Even on the same tank of gas. It will ping just going down the street, then the next day, nothing while driving the same route. It really has me stumped. This is the 12valve V6 if that helps anyone. Again, thanks.

Feb 14, 2005 | 09:31 AM

Hseries

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I have one also with a similar, often soft ping to it. It's just the way the enemic engine is built. My Sable has 193,000 on it. I have tried every type of gas, tune-ups, timing checked, car is maintained religiously and regularly only by a Ford dealer and they shrug their shoulders at it also. Just another reason why I have put off buying a new Montego. No one at Ford or their QUALIFIED mechanics from several dealerships can give me answers. Their answers seem to be associated with dollar signs......we can try this but it will cost this amount. WTH???? Whatever happened to a competent mechanic?

Feb 14, 2005 | 02:28 PM

e1p1

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From: CA Central Coast

Does it have a MAF (Mass Airflow Sensor) on the intake? Our '94 Lincoln TC has one, and about twice a year I have to (gently) remove it and (gently) clean the wire/contacts with electrical swiitch cleaner (Radio Shack...it's a spray, with a built in brush on the nozzle).

Gets rid of the knock and adds back some HP.

Erik

Feb 15, 2005 | 07:32 PM

paredneck33

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From: penn twp.

here's something else you can try. Take and fill you tank with 89 octane gas and add a pint of denatured alcohol to the full tank of gas and run the the car. It sound like the engine is full of carbon and doing this should burn the carbon off the cylinders. Just don't run much more than a pint of the alcohol cause you could bow the motor and you don't wanna do that. I use this method about 1 a year on my vehicles.

Feb 16, 2005 | 07:24 AM

holland501

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From: houston

It does have MAF. I'll try the cleaner idea. I've tried all the tune-ups in a can and 93 octane gas but none of that has helped. Sometimes it will ping on 93 and not on 87. I'd be willing to pay for the 93 if that was the answer. But it's not. Again, thanks for all the responces. When and if it gets fixed, I'll post it.